Opera

La favorita

Gaetano Donizetti

02 Nov, 17 - 06 Nov, 17

Musical conductor: Daniel Oren

In a season of commemorations such as this one at the Teatro Real, La favorita (La favorite), by Gaetano Donizetti, could not be left out of the programme; this is the opera which opened the Teatro Real on 19 November 1850. It was performed in its Italian version by one of the divas of the moment as its protagonist: Marietta Alboni.

La favorita, which we will hear in a concert version, will be conducted by Daniel Oren and it will be the debut on the Madrid stage of one of today’s most acclaimed mezzo sopranos: Jamie Barton. Baritone Simone Piazzola will be Alfonso XI, and tenor Javier Camarena, complete the tortured trio. 

Subtitles in

Spanish, English

Opera in four acts

Music by Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848)
 
Libretto by Alphonse Royer, Gustave Vaëz and Eugène Scribe
 
Premiered at the Académie Royale de Musique de Paris on 2 December 1840
Premiered at the Teatro Real on 19 November 1850
 
Opera in concert version

               

Synopsis of La favorita

Act I

The year is 1340 and King Alphonse XI (Alfonso XI) reigns in Castile. Father Baltasar, the superior of the fictitious Monastery of St. James of Compostela, is speaking to Fernand, a novice who is about to take his vows and in whom Balthazar has placed all his hopes and expectations as his successor. Fernand confesses to him that he has fallen in love with a beautiful and mysterious woman whose praises he sings, and that he dreams of a life beyond the monastery walls. Balthazar warns him of the perils of the world, but Fernand has made up his mind to leave the monastery and there follows a tearful farewell between the two.


In a paradisiacal retreat on the Island of León near the Portuguese coast (where King Alphonse is supposedly in the final stages of establishing alliances against the Moors) a group of young ladies are happily singing and dancing. Fernand, blindfolded in order to be escorted to Leonor, arrives by boat. Her timely appearance gives way to the opportune amorous displays, nevertheless, Leonor refuses to reveal her true identity. Even so, Fernand asks her to marry him but she responds that it is impossible and he must not see her again, she then hands him a piece of paper. Inés announces the King’s arrival, and Fernando, left alone, reads with pleasure that he has been
named a captain.

Act II

The battle (the Battle of Salado) has been won against the Moors. King Alphonse, strolling through the gardens of Seville’s Alcazar, praises their beauty while commenting to Don Gaspar on the great victory achieved thanks to the bravery of Fernand whom he wishes to ennoble. Once alone, Alphonse expresses his intention of repudiating the queen to marry Leonor who then appears and reproaches him for her sad fate as his mistress, requesting his permission to leave for good. The King refuses to grant it and tells her to trust him. During the big victory celebration that is being held Don Gaspar enters and tells the King that Leonor has taken a lover. As proof he gives Alphonse a letter that has been intercepted. Under questioning by Alphonse, Leonor confesses her love for another but refuses
to give the King his name. They are interrupted by Balthazar who bursts in waving a papal bull in his hand that threatens the King with fire and brimstone and even excommunication if he doesn’t immediately renounce and banish Leonor. In the final Concertante the Kind responds with fury to the Church’s interference against his wishes and threatens revenge, Leonor and Inés display their fright of the anathema and their insecure situation, and Don Gaspar and the court implore that Leonor will be banished and that they have time to get out of the Alcazar before if falls on their heads as a consequence of Balthasar’s censure.

Act III

In one of the halls of the Alcazar Fernando excitedly awaits Leonor. Don Gaspar enters with the King who upon seeing Fernand offers to grant him a reward for his bravery in battle. Fernand requests the hand in marriage of his beloved, whom he points to as she so conveniently enters. The surprised King reacts by ordering the wedding to take place immediately. Leonor, believing that Fernand should learn the truth before the ceremony, sends Inés on her behalf to tell him that she is the King’s paramour. Leonor exits first but Inés, left alone, is detained on the King’s orders and cannot deliver the message.


The wedding ceremony begins and the King honours Fernand with a number of titles and a diamond necklace. Leonor is exultant because she believes that in spite of what Inés has told him he is willing to accept her. However the courtiers, lead by Don Gaspar, are convinced that he is aware of the King’s affair with Leonor and snub Fernand who in ignorance, reacts by challenging them to duels. When the swords are about to be raised Balthazar enters and clears up the misunderstanding. A horrified Fernand censures the King for his ignominious behaviour and rejects his gifts and titles, thereby transforming the courtiers’ disdain for him into admiration.

Act IV

Disillusioned with the ways of the world, Fernand, back in the Monastery of St. James of Compostela, is about to take his final vows. Leonor appears disguised as a novice and after a grueling pilgrimage in search of Fernand faints when she hears him pronounce his vows. Fernand who has his misgivings about the decision he has taken goes out of the church and discovers Leonor there. They recognize each other and he asks her to go away. She tells him that she had been under the impression that he knew all about her and the King and asks his forgiveness. After some indecision, Fernand, who realizes that he’s falling in love with Leonor again, pardons
her and decides to go away with her. However Leonor wants only his forgiveness and once granted, after imploring God to save them both, serenely expires in his arms. Accompanied by the other monks Balthazar appears and once aware of who is lying there dead, tries to avoid a scandal by silencing Fernand and covering Leonor’s face with her hood. The superior implores all to pray for the novice who has just died.

La favorite (2017-2018)

Gaetano Donizetti

application/pdf 4.09 MB

Releases

Patron friends

08 September

2017

Subscribers friend

13 September

2017

Tickets on sale

18 September

2017

Performances

  • Date/hour
  • Space
  • Cast
  • Subscription ticket

06 November 2017

20:00

Main Auditorium

Simone Piazzola, Jamie Barton, Marina Monzó, Javier Camarena, Simón Orfila, Antonio Lozano, Alejandro del Cerro
Subscription tickets F

02 November 2017

19:00

Main Auditorium

Simone Piazzola, Jamie Barton, Marina Monzó, Javier Camarena, Simón Orfila, Antonio Lozano, Alejandro del Cerro
Subscription tickets -

Parallel activities

Conferencia. MUSEO ARQUEOLÓGICO NACIONAL

What's OnVarious

Conferencia alrededor de La favorite: Edad Media, Romanticismo y ópera. 26 de octubre de 2017, 19h.

26

October

2017

19:00

Visitas Guiadas Temáticas. MUSEO ARQUEOLÓGICO NACIONAL

What's OnVarious

Reinos cistianos de la Edad Media en el Museo Arqueológico Nacional3 de noviembre de 2017, 18h.

03

November

2017

18:00

Proyección

What's OnFilmoteca Española

Proyección de Don Giovanni (1979), de Joseph Losey. 29 de noviembre, 21:45h.

29

November

2017

21:45

Conferencia. REAL ACADEMIA DE LA HISTORIA

What's OnGayarre Hall

Conferencia en torno a la producción programada en el Teatro Real. Participantes: Miguel Ángel Ladero Quesada, Feliciano Barrios Pintado y Jaime de Salazar y Acha. Sala Gayarre, 31 de octubre, 19h. Acceso libre por C/Felipe V hasta completar aforo.

31

October

2017

19:00

Conferencia. INSTITUTO DE HISTORIA Y MUSEO NAVAL

What's OnVarious

La favorita de Alfonso XI: Gibraltar, Trastámara y Almirantes de Castilla. Conferenciante: Mariano Juan y Ferragut, capitán de navío retirado. Salón de Actos del Cuartel General de la Armada, 6 de noviembre a las 19.00 horas. Acceso libre hasta completar aforo.

06

November

2017

19:00

Visita Taller. INSTITUTO DE HISTORIA Y MUSEO NAVAL

What's OnVarious

Visita-taller al Museo Naval para niños de 8 a 12 años. Museo Naval, 4 de noviembre de 2017 a las 16:30h. Acceso libre hasta completar aforo. Inscripciones en actividadesmuseonaval@educacionypatrimonio.es

04

November

2017

16:30

Cuenta Cuentos. INSTITUTO DE HISTORIA Y MUSEO NAVAL

What's OnVarious

Cuenta-cuentos en el Museo Naval para todos los públicos. Museo Naval, 5 de noviembre de 2017, 11:30 h. y 12:30 h. Acceso libre hasta completar aforo. Inscripciones en actividadesmuseonaval@educacionypatrimonio.es

05

November

2017

11:30

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